In Mpape, residents were seen
discussing in groups about the impending demolition after sighting development
control officials marking structures in the area.

Also in Lugbe, residents of Tudun
Wada were seen discussing about the exercise.

A resident, Tunde Abolore,
said notices issued and markings carried out by development control
officials are not new to them as such markings have been carried out in the
past without the officials carrying out the demolition.

He said that the recent demolition
threat in the area is being taken seriously because the residents have lost the
case they filed against the FCDA to stop the latter from demolishing structures
in the area, which according to him is occupied by over 5,000 residents.

When contacted, Development
Control’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Joise Mudashiru, said the local announcement and
sensitization campaigns carried out across over 19 villages in the six area
councils of the FCT is to notify residents of illegal structures to vacate them
before the exercise commences.

She said fears being expressed by
residents is not usual as most of them know that they are living in buildings
without government`s approval.

She advised those living in
illegal structures to comply with the notices served on them by the department.